Talk to us about your background.
I grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, moved to Jordan, then lived in Germany and Spain for my studies, and worked in Nairobi, Kenya. Living in a multicultural environment opened my perspective to the fact that reality is never one-sided. I’ve always been intrigued by history and understanding the world around me—why things happen the way they do. This curiosity allowed me to explore ideas, start conversations, and naturally gravitate toward art as a means to trigger discussions on concepts that are crucial to our experience in the world. Part of my studies was politically and socially oriented, which helped me see that history repeats itself, and understanding where humanity went wrong can help us make better decisions and build a better future. I’ve been drawing and painting as far as I can remember. After my studies and work, I naturally gravitated toward art as a tool for communication. I use mixed media—acrylics, oils, thread and gold leaf—to express my ideas. I use beauty in my work as a tool to attract the viewer, but beyond the aesthetic layers, there’s a deeper message meant to shift perspectives and spark new ways of seeing.

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Would you say your work reflects your cultural heritage? If so, in what way?
My work reflects my story, my people’s story, and the story of the colonizer. I focus on reclaiming colonial and historic narratives, retelling them in ways that are authentic to us. Telling our own stories allows us to connect with our roots, define our identity and own our narrative instead of having it handed down to us by others. Flowers feature heavily in my work, symbolizing our connection to the land and the nurturing relationship we once had before colonialism. They also represent society’s tendency to gloss over its mistakes against humanity. Now, I’m working on an exhibition for a new series, “Re-Narrate,” which I’ve been developing for the past two years. It focuses on retelling colonial narratives in the Levant.